The story of John and Sarah's travel in their motorhome

Freedom Camping In Porangahau

Moving on from Pourerere the next stop on the tour was going to be another spot that had been recommended to us as a must stay place – Porangahau Beach but first we wanted to visit the small settlement of Aramoana and no we didn’t take a detour to the South Island it’s just another village with the same name as the one outside Dunedin. It’s a short 8km trip down a well graded metal road to get to Aramoana

There is a public carpark at the end of the road which also serves as freedom camping area with 4 dedicated spots available at the far end of the carpark with one little van parked up on our arrival. It’s not somewhere we could really stay as you can see from the photo we are rather too large to fit into one of the spaces.

Aramoana Beach

TD#3896

Proximity to Attractions

It's just a short stroll from here to the nearby beach an a decent walk to the marine reserve. Beyond that there is not much here.

Nearest Supplies/Town

Make sure you come prepared as there is no shops within 50kms of this place.

Ground Surface

Hard flat level carpark area but only a parking space wide so very cramped.

Proximity to Water/Dump Station

Nothing nearby so arrive full of water and empty of waste

Outlook from Camp

Beyond the pine trees you can see the beach or the hills the other way

Noise during Day and Night

Very quiet place

Cellphone Signal

Nothing here

Toilets/Showers

There are very clean modern toilets attached to the carpark but no shower

Walking/Cycling Tracks

A nice walk along the beach or to the marine reserve even a short cycle through the village to admire the expensive houses.

Pets welcome

No problem here

Overall Rating:

It\'s just a basic carpark with 4 spaces which could be very claustrophobic if you are in the middle. I would rather stay at Pourerere just down the road.

This settlement is full of rather expensive looking houses and in some ways the freedom camping area appears to be in conflict with it’s surroundings, especially given that those staying in the available space are most likely smaller “tourist” vans.

The main attraction here is the the marine reserve which is located a 1km walk down the beach but with the weather taking a turn for the worse and rain beginning to fall we choose not to visit but continue the journey. Since we wanted to visit the dump station we chose another large circular route heading first for Waipawa and the dump station. It was here that we again met up with Annelisa and some of her party from the NZMCA Taupo who we had met in Kairakau. Then onwards to the bustling metropolis of Waipukurau and some essential supplies.

We stopped at the local Caltex for diesel and to get the LPG cylinder refilled which I wouldn’t normally mention except that the service here was exceptional and worthy of a big thumbs up. Then into the Countdown next door before heading back onto the road. One advantage of coming this way was we had again avoided any metal road with a decent road all the way through to Porangahau. But it did mean that we missed out on a visit to Blackhead Beach which will be a must do next time.

Porangahau Beach is actually about another 6 kms past the little village where there is a cafe, garage, and local store so if you have forgotten something it’s not that far to go back for a top up. The freedom camping area is nestled in a reserve area with housing around it so it doesn’t feel as remote as it might otherwise. You are set back from the beach about 20 metres with a walkway through the dunes to access the beach but they aren’t tall enough to spoil the view from some parts of the camping area.

The camping area is deceptively large with areas either out in the open that have views to the sea or under the shade of the old pine trees. Sarah and I have always avoided staying under trees as we are concerned about either falling pine cones or heaven forbid a falling branch during a strong wind so we found ourselves a nice place out in the open. 7 vehicles spent the night with 4 of them under the trees so I guess not everyone is as concerned as we are.

Like the other freedom camping areas along this part of the coast there are flushing toilets here that are clean, obviously maintained on a regular basis. There is also a fresh water supply which would be an added bonus if you were planning an extended stay.

As is our usual thing after settling the motorhome it was time for a walk. This is a massive beach that was almost completely devoid of people but with large flocks of Tern’s that had claimed the beach. As we walked towards them they would take flight only to settle down behind us as we passed by, a temporary interruption to their lives. They reminded me of the planes in Star Wars with the way they elevate their wings before talking flight which you can see a couple of them doing in the photo above.

We were both quite taken with this seaweed which neither of us have ever seen before which had washed up on a number of mussel shells along the beach. I would imagine that in the water being swayed by the currents they would be quite a pretty sight, almost like flowers of the sea.

We had enjoyed such good weather during our trip but today although it wasn’t raining the sky was very threatening. That didn’t stop us walking to the end of the beach beyond the houses that comprise this small beach settlement. I am sure that on a clearer day the view back along this massive beach would be a sight to behold.

A couple of days ago we were watching the series Coast with Simon Reeve on TV1 and they featured a small segment about this beach with a group of people playing Polo on the beach. Apparently it is a thing that happens here although not on the days we visited. Perhaps there is a season when they play.

It’s when you see the beach later in the day at low tide that you can imagine the pounding of the polo ponies amongst this vast expanse of sand, this beach really is huge.

Of course it wouldn’t be one of my blogs without at least one photo of our motorhome and where we parked. As you can see from the photo the area is set back a little way from the beach but not so far that we didn’t get a decent view from the front windows. Although perhaps when the camping area is fuller you might find your view blocked by other campers. It’s another quality freedom camping area along this coast. One that we will return to. You can also if you look closely see Mr Blobby under the back of the motorhome on his inspection tour making sure all is in order.

Te Paerahi Beach (Porangahau)

TD#3973

Proximity to Attractions

Fishing, swimming, surfing or just a stroll along the beach then it's all right here just a stones throw from the camping area.

Nearest Supplies/Town

The local village is 6 kms away for basic supplies otherwise it's a long drive back to Waipukurau so come prepared.

Ground Surface

Mostly level with an choice of areas on either grass or hard sand under the trees.

Proximity to Water/Dump Station

There is water here but a long drive to the nearest dump station so make sure you arrive with empty waste tank.

Outlook from Camp

Very pleasant views of the water from the motorhome

Noise during Day and Night

It was very quiet the night we stayed

Cellphone Signal

There is Vodafone and Spark here

Toilets/Showers

Clean flushing toilets onsite well maintained by the council

Walking/Cycling Tracks

Nothing formal but a really pleasant long walk along the beach that stretches for kilometres.

Pets welcome

No problem with pets here.

Overall Rating:

A nice place to stay that we will come back to with a sealed road in and out worth making the trip.

To view the places we have visited click here to see them on Google maps. You can click the links to read the blog about that area.